I have Immortality In The Cultivation World Chapter 329

Chapter 329: Chapter 278: Land Promotion_2

“Shopkeeper, are we just going to wait like this?”

The speaker was a helper named Yang San, strong and knowledgeable in several farming techniques, responsible for guarding the front door.

Zhou Yi sighed and said, “What else can we do? If we go outside, we might catch the plague. Even Doctor Wang from Huichun Hall can't save those afflicted. We can only wait for death with our eyes open!”

Yang San glanced at the figures outside, who didn't seem like living people, and said fearfully, “We don't have much food left in the shop.”

“Alcohol is the essence of grain. We can hold on for ten days or half a month. Someone will come to deal with this mess.”

A cold glint flashed in Zhou Yi's eyes. Those who were afflicted with that epidemic sorcery could only live for three to five days if they were weak and ten days to half a month if they were strong.

If at that time no one comes out to manifest divine power and “save the people from suffering,” the people of Linyang County will all be dead.

If everyone is dead, who will offer incense?

Zhou Yi flipped through the book in his hand, which was a copy of the Incense Condensing Spirit Technique. Ever since he acquired this method, he had been reading and pondering it day and night.

As he delved deeper into his studies, he increasingly felt the profound mystery of this technique–it could be said to be the foundation of the path of the gods!

Even without a divine path inheritance in Dongsheng Divine Continent, as long as one continues to expand the uses of Wish Power Beads, one day it would be possible to deduce a complete Incense Divine Path.

“This technique gives me a feeling similar to the Minor Heaven-Cutting Art, the Devouring Heaven Demonic Technique, but it's even more complete and profound. I gain new insights every day… Unfortunately, no matter how mysterious the divine path is, I won't cultivate it, I'm just using the Wish Power Beads to transcend calamity!”

Zhou Yi felt a deep-seated fear and kept a respectful distance from the power of incense wishes. Even if his realm was low and the drawbacks were not apparent, he did not wish to be tainted by it.

In the blink of an eye, ten days passed.

Yang San was lying in a daze behind the door, surviving on alcohol and water for five continuous days. Even an iron man couldn't bear it.

Suddenly.

Dong dong dong…

The sound of the Bronze Gong rang outside, followed by the shouting of Government Officials.

“The Earth God has revealed his presence, the Earth God has revealed his presence…”

“The Land God Temple is distributing protective Spirit Talismans, wearing them can ward off the evil plague, making one immune to all diseases…”

“Everyone must go to receive a Spirit Talisman. The Earth God is saving the world and saving the people, the Spirit Talisman is free of charge, you don't have to spend a single coin…”

The shouts spread through the streets.

The county town, which had been silent for more than ten days, suddenly came alive. Hearing the announcements, the people immediately rushed towards the Land God Temple.

West City.

Land God Temple.

Originally, there was only one Land God Temple in East City, but due to the Earth God's continuous disaster relief, various temples were erected.

Outside the temple, there was a queue several miles long, full of people eagerly waiting to receive the Spirit Talismans.

Government Officials were maintaining order, scolding loudly at those who tried to cut in line, handcuffing the disobedient and throwing them into prison.

“Officer, I beg you, let me get the Spirit Talisman before I go to jail. If I delay any longer, I will die.”

The queue jumper, with a gaunt face, obviously had the plague, knelt on the ground, and knocked his head on the floor, pleading, “Officer, spare my life, I don't want to die, officer, spare my life…”

The Government Official didn't care about that, whipped him with a ruler a few times, and was about to drag him away.

“Head Liu, don't be like this.”

A gentle voice came. It was a monk in a yellow robe, “He's just trying to survive and hasn't done anything wrong. Can the laymen delay a moment and give him a Spirit Talisman to save his life first?”

“Of course we can.”

“Master Jia is compassionate, the Earth God is compassionate!”

“I recognize this man. He's done good and charitable deeds on regular days. He's not a bad person.”

The people in line did not dare to complain and hurriedly spoke in support, for this man was the temple priest, Master Jia.

Head Liu quickly bowed, showing even more respect than he would to the County Magistrate, and said, “Since Master Jia has spoken, then we will favor this man.”

The townsman, saved from the brink of death, immediately became the Earth God's most devout worshipper and entered the Land God Temple under Master Jia's guidance.

However, the Spirit Talisman was not so easily obtained!

As the temple priests explained, the Spirit Talismans were drawn by the Earth God for the devotees; only those who offer sincere incense and worship could activate their effectiveness.

After a series of kowtows, offering of incense, and recitation of scriptures, the townsman finally obtained the Spirit Talisman.

Folded into the size of a palm, the yellow paper immediately made him feel comfortable all over as he took it. His body was still weak, but he no longer felt the excruciating pain of worms gnawing at his heart and liver.

“I thank the Earth God!”

County Government Office.

Back hall.

The doors and windows were in a state of disrepair, and the years-old unrepaired roof could collapse at any moment.

Since the era of the Great Eternal Ancestor, there had been a rule against officials repairing their offices. Since Prefect Zhao took office, he didn't have the capability nor the courage to make repairs.

It was the height of summer, and the heat was unbearable.

Yet Prefect Zhao did not feel the heat at all. He sat cross-legged on a cushion, holding Wish Power Beads and cultivating Spiritual Energy.

At that moment.

A shadow emerged in the corner of the wall and transformed into an elderly man in a long robe, who bowed and reported.

“Sir, that person has begun to save lives.”

“Understood.”

Prefect Zhao ceased his cultivation, put away the Wish Power Beads, and after contemplating for a moment, instructed, “Don't focus on this matter anymore, withdraw all personnel, and pretend to be unaware.”

The old man asked, puzzled, “This plague doesn't seem like a natural disaster. The traces of sorcery are too evident, and anyone with clear sight could notice it. What if word gets out…”

“So what if it does?”

Prefect Zhao said, “I am merely a Ninth Grade official who has just achieved Foundation Establishment. How am I qualified to meddle in the affairs of a Golden Core? At most, it can be seen as a lapse in oversight. I would simply weep before my master, and it would be over!”

The advisor expressed concern, “I'm just afraid that those above might investigate the whereabouts of the Wish Power Beads.”

Prefect Zhao had anticipated this, and said, “I shall not touch those Wish Power Beads for now. I will observe the situation for a few years, and if anything comes of it, I will immediately submit them to the Imperial Court. Perhaps I could even earn some merit for it!”

“Sir, you are wise.”

The advisor immediately breathed a sigh of relief, for if something were to happen to Prefect Zhao, he would also be implicated.

“Do you think that person will succeed?”

“Eight or nine out of ten chances, yes.”

Prefect Zhao said, “This plague could yield at least a few thousand Wish Power Beads, and along with the past four years, the amount would exceed ten thousand, which is enough to purchase the position of a Judge in the underworld of a provincial government!”

“From cultivator to Yin God, from the immortal path to the Ghost Path, extending one's lifespan for hundreds of years.”

The advisor said enviously, “Besides, a Judge of the provincial government holds astonishing authority; no wonder that person is willing to take the risk!”

“This is not taking a risk; it is truly gambling with one's life!”

Prefect Zhao looked toward the Land God Temple and said somberly.

“The path of the gods is far from the carefree wandering of immortals. The entanglements of karma with believers are too heavy. Not to mention that the promotion is not yet secured, even if it is, it doesn't mean there will be no future troubles. Could they possibly slaughter all the people of Linyang?”

“The poor are easy to oppress, but Heaven is hard to deceive! This karma will have to be repaid sooner or later….”

Land God Temple.

The crowd was surging.

The commoners, originally skeptical of the Spirit Talismans, seeing people on the brink of death suddenly cured, became even more enthusiastic.

As they queued to offer incense, they called out to thank the Earth God, each voice louder than the last.

Zhou Yi stood amidst the crowd, a mocking gleam in his eyes. Practicing the Incense Condensing Spirit Technique allowed him to clearly see the amount of Wish Power.

The commoners' chants were loud, yet the incense offered was meager.

Of course, concerning life and death from the plague, receiving the life-saving grace of the Earth God would naturally mean offering ten to a hundred times more incense than regular days.

“No wonder Hong Luo said that continuous natural disasters would not increase believers' faith; in fact, it would grow weaker. They worship gods in hopes of a stable and prosperous life, yet they face disaster and suffering instead.”

“Life is too miserable; even if gods save them, the devout belief is gone!”

Zhou Yi suddenly realized in his heart why the previous years' natural disasters, despite the investigation of the cultivators, turned up nothing incriminating.

This year, however, curses were cast crudely and blatantly. It seemed the ordinary natural disasters no longer stirred up enough incense and Wish Power from the commoners, necessitating the use of even crueler and more vicious methods.

Like harvesting leeks, one cannot be too harsh or frequent. They must be given the opportunity to grow!

Zhou Yi's figure flickered and vanished. Moments later, he arrived in South City, the slum area of Linyang County.

Streets flowed with sewage, and houses were dilapidated and crowded.

Kushui Street.

No. 13 Ding.

In the courtyard lived only a dark and scrawny boy, so severely sick that he no longer had the strength to get out of bed.

His mother drowned in the flood the year before last.

Last year, his father was crushed to death during a tetonic shift.

Other relatives, friends, and neighbors had all died in the recent natural disasters, making him an utterly alone orphan.

The boy should have died as well, but by sheer luck, he had inexplicably survived each time.

When on the brink of starvation, little mice would scurry out from the corners; when nearly drowned, driftwood floated to him; before the earth shifted, he wandered dazedly into an open field…

On the roof.

Zhou Yi watched the boy gasping for air. With a Heavenly Spiritual Root, orphaned, surnamed Lin, harboring deep hatred… his fate was profoundly thick. He waved his hand to release the Spirit Ginseng doll and instructed,

“Proceed with the plan.”

“Master, rest assured!”

As the Spirit Ginseng doll spoke, it transformed into a girl in a sky-blue silk robe, with hands soft as young leaves and skin smooth as cream. Wearing bells on her wrists and bare feet, she made a tinkling sound as she walked.

The sound woke the boy inside the house, who opened his eyes to see a stunningly beautiful woman, and was so entranced that he seemed to lose his soul.

The Spirit Ginseng doll, with sparkling eyes and a bright smile, cheerfully said,

“Kind sir, do you remember the Green Snake you saved years ago…”

Chapter end

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